Arsenal’s first-team are on the brink of Champions League qualification, and the club’s U19 side also find themselves within touching distance of the Last 16 of their version of Europe’s elite club competition, with the youngsters requiring just a point away to Napoli early next month to seal progression to the knockout stages.
They have certainly made life rather difficult for themselves along the way, however, with Monday’s tempestuous 1-1 draw with Marseille at Meadow Park a case in point. Both sides were reduced to ten men, with Isaac Hayden seeing red for needlessly kicking out at an opponent who had fouled him, whilst the Gunners struggled to break down a resolute Marseille defence, other than when Kristoffer Olsson calmly converted a penalty in the first-half to equalise after the French team had taken the lead courtesy of a superb strike.
There were not too many stand-out performances from an Arsenal perspective, although full-backs Tafari Moore (pictured above) and Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill were effective at both ends of the field with their positioning defensively and their dangerous crosses in attacking areas. Midfielder Gedion Zelalem made less of an impact, with the Germany U17 international being withdrawn at the break when the more defensive-minded Glen Kamara was introduced, but Zelalem is still working his way back to full fitness and was impressive against Borussia Dortmund in the previous game in this competition, so it would be unwise to draw too many conclusions on him from this performance.
Whilst Arsenal inch towards progression in the UEFA Youth League, the U18s are continuing to find positive results and performances very difficult to come by. After Saturday’s 4-2 defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur, Carl Laraman’s side have now gone twelve games without a win, with problems apparent all over the pitch for the young Gunners.
The U18s have struggled to perform as a cohesive unit all season, with the defence perhaps the biggest area for concern. In some cases players may be under-performing due to a lack of ability, but there are others who are certainly capable of far better and, the longer this negative sequence of results continues, the greater the concerns will be about the impact it is having on these players at a critical time of their development.
One player who is gaining experience in a far more positive environment is right-back Hector Bellerin, with the young Spaniard having recently joined Championship side Watford on loan until early January. Currently behind Bacary Sagna and Carl Jenkinson in the club’s hierarchy, Bellerin will have to bide his time before being presented with the opportunity to become a regular starter at Emirates Stadium, but he has progressed very well since joining from Barcelona two years ago and will be hopeful that a successful stint at Vicarage Road will be able to propel him into the first-team set-up at Arsenal.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
Photo by Kieran Clarke
We can see the youngsters potentials for glories, they of course watch our first team of course i feel on the field its formation or fitness or determination of the players
Of course
It’s interesting how the U-19’s seem to have improved as the first team have. The first team performance and it’s impact is far greater than I realised on the rest of the club.
Think it would be interesting to see Zelalem sent out on loan. This season I think is too early. But if he’s not going to get much of a look-in next season, then I think that is what he needs. Clearly technically good….he just needs to get out there and play competitive football.
Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill – future Arsenal Gent favourite
Will Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill’s nickname be BOO? We’ll be criticised for booing our own players!
I can hear it now. “BOOOOOO!”
It’s a slow day.
http://evergreenterrace.com.au/2012/06/boo-urns-boo-urns/
U18 may need a refresher in terms of coaching set up.
Is that a woman?